Skip to main content

21OAK may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

How to create a relaxing bedroom that doubles as your sanctuary

While the rest of your home may be alive with activity, what you want most from a bedroom is an atmosphere of relaxation. It should be a space where once the door is closed, you feel as if you have entered a sanctuary that allows you to rest and recharge. What are the essential elements for creating a relaxing bedroom? Follow our guide below to turn yours into the perfect space to escape the stress of everyday life.

relaxed-bedroom
Calvin Hanson/Unsplash

Calming color

Before a bedroom even has a piece of furniture in it, you need to think about what is typically the biggest surface in the room—the walls. Color can have a huge impact on how you feel in any space. Certain hues evoke energy while others promote tranquility. Warm, spicy shades like red, yellow, and orange are best in rooms you socialize and entertain in. While soft blues, greens, neutrals, and grays are ideal for spaces where relaxation is the focus. These gentle hues give an airiness to the palette that allows it to breathe.

Recommended Videos

From the ground up

Since most of the time you spend in your bedroom is barefoot, having soft and plush floor coverings is key. Even if you have wall-to-wall carpeting, area rugs are a great way to designate different sections in the space. For example, you can place one under the bed and one in a seating area. Rugs also reduce noise because they are quieter to walk on and absorb sound in the air.

Build up the bed

In a bedroom, the bed is the focal point. It is where you spend the most time while you are there. A padded headboard offers additional support and a cozy foundation. Indulge in the softest sheets you can afford. Generally, the higher the thread count, the better they feel. Don’t forget to double up on pillows. Layer other elements to create interest and offer options—a blanket, a quilt or comforter, or a buttery throw strewn at the bottom will all add to the overall aesthetic. This

heated throw blanket

from Brookstone is perfect for wrapping around your shoulders while you read a book or watch television. To top it off, layer accent pillows on the bed to bring in personality and texture.

Mood lighting

The bedroom is not the place for harsh, bright lighting. Avoid using one overhead fixture and instead incorporate multiple sources throughout the space. Table and floor lamps are better at achieving the warm glow you want in a bedroom. Make sure to purchase soft white bulbs. Consider installing dimmer lights to give the option of adjusting the lighting throughout the day.

botanicals on a bedside table
Logan Nolin/Unsplash

Keep it clutter-free

One of the biggest ways to quell a relaxed vibe is by having a continually messy room. Often, clutter results from not having proper storage and organization, so take the time to outfit your bedroom with furniture and materials tailored to your needs. Once everything has a place, it is easier to keep a space clean and tidy. Covered baskets offer storage and add a chic design element. A storage ottoman can house extra sheets and bedding and serve as a place to put your feet up in a reading or sitting nook.

Bring in natural elements

Bringing organic elements into a bedroom evokes the relaxation you feel when you are out in nature. Plants reduce stress and purify the air. An arrangement of fresh flowers awakens the design. Adding them and continually switching them up brings a freshness to the bedroom. Wood imparts warmth into a space—a shelf made of live-edge wood or a sliding barn door adds character to the room and instantly warms it up.

Stress reducers

A calm environment should appeal to all the senses. Bring in soft, touchable accessories such as pillows and throws. Add them to the bed and chairs or seating arrangements, so there are multiple spots in the room to snuggle into. To ensure a good night’s rest, consider investing in blackout shades. Noise machines with options such as forest sounds, rain, or ocean waves can block out distracting sounds like traffic and construction. Essential oil diffusers

like this one from InnoGear

infuse the air with pleasant aromas—lavender and chamomile are especially effective at promoting relaxation.

Creating soothing bedrooms is about designing a space that feels like the stress outside slips away. Once you have put together your oasis, it will be a place you will be happy to retreat to every night and wake up in to start your day.

Topics
Darcey Gohring
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Darcey Gohring is a freelance writer based just outside New York City. She served as the managing editor of New Jersey…
Transform your bathroom with Hydro Systems’ new custom color bathtubs
Transform your bathroom into a wellness sanctuary with Hydro Systems
Hydro Systems Lido Stone Grey

Hydro Systems announced the launch of its new custom color bathtub offering, designed to bring a fresh, personalized approach to bathroom wellness. With an expanded palette that includes 15 premium shades, any Pantone or RAL hue, and even custom swatch matching, homeowners now have unlimited ways to infuse color into their bathroom retreat.
Color plays a vital role in shaping the atmosphere of a space, and Hydro Systems is tapping into that influence to help homeowners create bathrooms that support relaxation, rejuvenation, and overall well-being. Whether choosing calming blues and greens or more energizing shades like terracotta or golden yellow, every hue offers the opportunity to make a personal statement while enhancing the mood of the room.
"By enabling homeowners to create the perfect color match, Hydro Systems ensures that the bathroom becomes more than just a functional space," said a Hydro Systems spokesperson. "It becomes a personalized sanctuary that enhances physical and mental well-being."
This new offering allows homeowners and designers alike to move beyond traditional white tubs and transform the bathroom into a vibrant, wellness-centered haven when remodeling a bathroom. With complete color flexibility, the bathtub becomes a true design element — one that reflects personal taste while setting the tone for a more mindful daily routine.
Unlike standard bathtubs, Hydro Systems’ custom color options combine luxury, wellness, and individuality in one seamless solution.
For more information about the new custom color bathtub collection, explore Hydro Systems bath tub options today.

Read more
How to choose the right nightstand for your bedroom: The ultimate guide
Try this basic guideline to find the right nightstand for your space
A white-covered bed sits against a white wall with exposed brick in the background

Nightstands may not be an essential addition to your bedroom design, depending on your aesthetic, but they are an incredibly convenient piece of furniture. Whether you need a space to store your phone during the night, an easy-to-reach spot for your alarm clock, a place to hold a lamp, or simply a surface to set down a cup of water, nightstands provide several useful functions in the bedroom.

But how do you choose the right nightstand for your space? We'll break down the basics of how to choose a nightstand that's both stylish and functional.
What to consider when choosing a bedside table

Read more
Is millennial green the new millennial gray? Here’s what to know
Here's the lowdown on the millennial green trend
Pale green wall paint color with retro decor

Millennial gray swept through many interiors during the minimalist movements of the 2010s as millennials attempted to counteract the gaudy and beige interiors of their parents. Today, millennials are transitioning away from gray to green. The swap seems to be inspired by new biophilic interiors, old-money aesthetics, and cottagecore looks.

Sage, olive, and forest green tones are trending everywhere. But is it becoming tacky and overrated? We weigh in on what you need to know about millennial green.
What is millennial green?

Read more